Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEWFER’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEWFER’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to pendulous and mounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; freely and continuously flowering habit; long flowering period; plants flower throughout the summer in The Netherlands; and single male and female flowers that are bright red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia pendula×Begonia boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEWFER’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia pendula×Begonia boliviensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEWFER’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new hanging Begonia plants with freely branching and flowering habit, good summer performance and long flowering period.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Begonia pendula identified as code number 06-290-32, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code number 07-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in July, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since October, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEWFER’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBEWFER’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading to pendulous and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Freely and continuously flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period; plants flower throughout the summer in         The Netherlands.     -   5. Single male and female flowers that are bright red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have single flowers whereas plants         of the female parent selection have double flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker-colored leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia pendula×Begonia boliviensis ‘Encanto Orange’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,898. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed primarily from plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had darker-colored leaves than         plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Encanto Orange’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ had bright         orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia hybrid ‘Sunjirared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/385,537. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Begonia differed primarily from plants of ‘Sunjirared’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were bushier than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Sunjirared’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia had more rounded tepal         apices than flowers of plants of ‘Sunjirared’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEWFER’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close up view of the upper and lower surfaces of typical flower buds, flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBEWFER’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring and early summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 19° C. and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 18° C. Plants were seven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia pendula×Begonia boliviensis     ‘BKPBEWFER’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             pendula identified as code number 06-290-32, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code number 07-002, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About one week at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 32 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 35 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; beige in color; plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to pendulous and             mounded plant habit; flattened globular in overall shape;             freely basal branching with about nine basal branches             developing per plant with lateral branches developing at             potentially every node; pinching will enhance branching             potential; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 36.6 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 14.4 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Internode length: About 3.4 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Aspect: Upright to about 40° from vertical.             Strength: Outwardly bending with the weight of the leaves             and flowers; flexible. Color: Close to 199A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 13.2 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate;             asymmetrical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin:             Bi-serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             glossy. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C flushed with close to             181B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between N134A and 147A; venation, close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C flushed with             close to 182B; venation, close to 146A to 146B. Petioles:             Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Stipules.—Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:             Broadly ovate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             41C; venation, close to 41A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Single rotate female and cruciform male             flowers arranged in axillary compound cymes; freely             flowering habit with about 135 flowers developing per plant;             flowers and face mostly outwardly to drooping.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 38             days after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             freely and continuously from spring until October in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.3 cm.         -   Female flowers, diameter.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Female flowers height (depth).—About 5.3 cm.         -   Female flowers, flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic, flattened. Color: Close to             42B.         -   Female flowers, tepals.—Quantity per flower: About five in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.3 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm.             Shape: Elliptic to narrowly obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Between 40A and 44B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 41A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Between 40A and 44B; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 42A to             42B; color does not fade with development.         -   Female flowers, reproductive organs.—Number of pistils per             flower: About six. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length:             About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 24C. Stigma color: Close             to 15A. Ovary color: Close to 145A; wings, close to 45A.         -   Male flowers, diameter.—About 5.4 cm.         -   Male flowers, height (depth).—About 4.8 cm.         -   Male flowers, flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:             About 1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate, flattened. Color: Close             to 46A; towards the base, close to 34A.         -   Male flowers, tepals.—Quantity per flower: About four in a             single whorl. Length: About 4.4 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm to             3.7 cm. Shape: Two tepals are narrowly ovate and the other             two are ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 44A to 44B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 42A. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 44A; color does not fade with             development.         -   Male flowers, reproductive organs.—Number of stamens per             flower: About 80. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to 16C to 16D. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther shape: Club-shaped. Anther color: Close to 16A.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11B.         -   Peduncles, female and male flowers.—Length: About 6.4 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle: About 60° from lateral branch.             Strength: Weak; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 152B; upper surface tinged with close to 185A.         -   Pedicels, female flowers.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Angle: About 40° from the peduncle. Strength:             Weak. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145C; upper             surface tinged with close to 185A.         -   Pedicels, male flowers.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Angle: Erect to about 40° from the peduncle.             Strength: Weak. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 44A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145C             tinged with close to 44A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperature of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA     Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEWFER’ as illustrated and described. 